Rube Goldberg Engineering

Design and Build a Rube Goldberg Machine

 

We’ve all seen the crazy chain-reaction contraptions called Rube Goldberg machines, named for the cartoonist who originated them as a parody of modern life. Now you can explore the creative side of engineering by designing and building your own Rube Goldberg devices.

We will start with a broad look at the principles of mechanics and design and also go over measurement and hand-tool use. Then, students will design and build interactive machines where a simple push starts a chain reaction of pulleys, dominoes and so much more. As the week progresses, our designs will become more complex, culminating in a grand finale chain reaction on the last day. Ultimately we will see how these devices, which waste time and energy to accomplish simple tasks, can be a vehicle for engineering ingenuity and artistic expression.

What You Will Learn

Experience the creative side of engineering by designing and building Rube Goldberg devices.

• Receive safety instruction.
• Learn the basics of mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Gain an understanding of what a chain reaction is and why we want to learn about this concept.
• Design and experiment with mechanisms for transferring energy from one place to another.
• Learn about hypothesis testing and the scientific method.
• Take a historical look at failure and examine how failure has led to success.
• Design, build and test a variety of Rube Goldberg machines.

Return to the Sally Ride Science Junior Academy website here.

Note: In response to COVID-19 health guidelines, we have restructured our in-person Junior Academy workshops as online courses. Contact us at srs@ucsd.edu if you have questions.

Course Number: ENG-90021
Credit: 1.50 unit(s)

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7/12/2021 - 7/16/2021

$175

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• SECTION ID:

  156365

• CLASS TYPE:

  Synchronous web-based class meetings that are scheduled to meet online at published times (time/date).

• INSTRUCTOR:
  

  Carter, Sasha, BS in Earth Science, PhD in Geological Science

  Dr. Sasha Peter Carter (he/his/him) joined Sally Ride Science Junior Academy in 2016 to create the kinds of science classes he always wished existed – classes that emphasize direct, hands-on interactions with physical science phenomena; classes that get students doing science in the first 15 minutes; classes that foster a collaborative learning community; classes that put students in the driver's seat and give them ownership over their discoveries. His Junior Academy instruction began with Messy Science in 2016 and now includes five different workshops. Sasha brings to the classroom eight years of post-doctoral research in Antarctic water systems and more than five years of teaching students of all ages. When he's not working for Sally Ride Science, he’s teaching Ea...Read More

• TEXTBOOKS:

  No textbook required.

• POLICIES:

  1st meeting mandatory.
  Early enrollment advised.
  No UCSD parking permit required.
  No visitors permitted.
  Pre-enrollment required.
  No refunds after: 7/5/2021.
  

• NOTE:

  Grade Level: 9th-12th Instructor will contact students 24-hours in advance of class with Zoom information. Students have the option of logging on to Zoom from 1-1:30pm to have office hours with the instructor. In addition, students have the option of staying on Zoom after class ends from 3-4pm for additional support. Please note that some courses require supplies. Supply information will be posted here by 4/15/21. We recommend you check back at this point for further details.

DATE	DAY	START	END	LOCATION
7/12/2021	Mon	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/13/2021	Tue	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/14/2021	Wed	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/15/2021	Thu	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.
7/16/2021	Fri	1:30 p.m.	3:00 p.m.